Baby Girl is Sick

Audrey Jane made almost 9 months without having more than a sniffle of sickness. But as of yesterday she is on her first bottle of amoxicillin for a right ear infection and moxifloxacin eye drops for a double eye infection. She had a runny nose starting on the 11th but her snot was clear and we were sure it was from teething. She was and is chewing on everything. By the end of the week she had less snot but it had a yellow tint. I went to work Saturday night and she was fine. Daddy texted me asking if I had been cleaning any "eye boogers" out of her eye. I hadn't but just assumed she had a little crusty.  Praise the Lord that I was sent home from work at midnight for low census. In that short about of time her poor eyes were both oozing yellow gunk. We started putting breastmilk drops in them and being meticulous with the snot sucker. By midafternoon on Sunday the swelling around her eyes was better and she had very little gunk but the skin around her eyes was still red. She did well Sunday night and seemed happy Monday but by early afternoon her eyes starting oozing gunk again so I made a doctors appointment. Her highest fever was 100.2 and I having a sneaky suspicion her infection is viral but the doctor prescribed antibiotics. The oral medicine and probiotics were easier to get down by her second dose this morning but the eye drops are horrible. We can tell they hurt her eyes and she fights us and clamps her eyes down. I don't know how single moms do it because eye drops are a 2 person job!

Audrey Jane will be 9 months old this weekend. She may have said her first word last week after spending the day with Cole at Gradma's house. Ball--which is quite fitting since Cole spends the day delivering balls to her! She said it multiple times in the right context but then it became her favorite word to babble as well so who knows. She isn't saying dada much these days. Stuart thinks she has said and m word a few times when she is hungry but it could mean mamma or milk since she gets the majority of her milk from me. Since she has been sick she hasn't been talking much. She has been taking bottles easier when I am away. She is old enough to recognize that the bottle has milk and that if she is hungry and I am not around that is the way to get it. She had already eating 7 ounces before midnight on Saturday and that is more than she has been taking the whole night when I work.

At her sick visit Audrey was 16.8 pounds with her clothes and diaper on so I think she is probably about 16 pounds 8 ounces. We will have an official weight check the beginning of June. Audrey is pulling up on everything and will sometimes take a few steps when we are holding both of her hands. She is a pro at putting very small things in her mouth and is mesmerized by crumbs and threads on the floor. She still takes the majority of her naps in her swing of by falling asleep in the stroller during walks. She really enjoys playing with toys these days and has been playing without us even these last few days while she has been sick (in between numerous cuddles).

Daddy has a conference to attend at the end of the week and Audrey and I are going to visit Granny and Pappy for a few days. We are sad that Uncle Jake and Aunt Brittany are going to be gone on vacation for most of our visit.

8 months old

 Audrey Jane is 8 months old. She is eating most foods mommy and daddy eat for lunch and dinner. She has been having more solid bowel movements for a few weeks and actually had a fully formed but still soft stool over the weekend. (I'm sure she's going to love the fact that I blogged about this in about 15 years, but this blog is serving as a diary for when she hits certain milestones and I consider this worth documenting.) Audrey has been taking bottles easier when I work but she still takes much less than what I think she eats when we are together. She has become a very distracted nurser during the day and continues to eat more frequently in the evenings and overnight. The exception to this is the day after I work where she wants to cuddle and eat frequently. Audrey began "army crawling" April 3th and by the time she was officially 8 months old on the 25th she has became much more mobile and sometimes even crawls on her hands and knees. However, she is still distracted very easily so she isn't into everything yet. By mid month she was was able to push herself from the floor into a sitting position. She loves standing with assistance (and is getting stronger and stronger) and climbing on us in bed. About a week ago she started to pull up to her knees and earlier today she was playing with her activity table in the middle of the floor and used it to pull up unassisted by us. She is started to mimic sounds but she still uses various cries as her preferred method of communication. She lets her preferences be known with vocalization and facial expressions.We finished a four week session of sing and sign classes over the weekend and look forward to her being able to communicate with signs or words in the not so distant future. Twice in the last couple of days she has "said" da da at the appropriate time but it is one of her favorite noises so she uses it at inappropriate times as well. Momma isn't quite ready to give her credit yet. Audrey loves playing with her toys, being outside in the grass, and interacting with her cousin Cole at grandma's house. Her daddy and I love watching her change and grow.

Easter

Spring Break Fun

Getting ready to get into the pool for the first time

I don't know about this mommy, so I'm going to suck my fingers and you better hold me close

This isn't so bad but I'm pretty hungry so I need my fingers

If I can't drink milk I'm going to hold onto mommas flotation devices

hiking the putney pond trail

Sitting up for St. Patrick's Day

6 months

Momma’s dearest Audrey Jane,

You turned 6 months old this week. We have started baby led weaning and you are learning to bite and chew food, although most of the food ends up in your lap and not in your belly.  We started two nights before your “1/2 year birthday” with avocado. Since then your favorite foods to play with seem to be broccoli and strawberry. You have also experimented with pepper strips, carrots, sweet potato, blackberries, and banana. We’ve been through quite a list for your first week of solid foods! Mamma almost forgot the salad leaves and chunk of potato that kept you entertained when Momma and Aunt Rach had lunch at O’Charleys. You aren’t really “eating” much yet but food is keeping you entertained at most meals so that Momma and Daddy can eat without holding or bouncing you. Giving you food has been an emotional step for Momma. I love seeing you explore new things but want Momma’s milk to be your primary source of nourishment for your first year and want our breastfeeding relationship to continue beyond that milestone. Momma has become quite an advocate for breastfeeding and natural child birth in the last year. I try to not be overly pushy in my views because in the end everyone gets to make the choices that are best for them, but Momma only wants the best for you Audrey Jane and I truly believe that is what we are doing.  I’ve planned for natural childbirth and breastfeeding since before we ever decided to have you. On other fronts I do a lot of reading and just go with my gut. Momma planned for you to sleep in your crib and to work more than I am but you know what baby girl I love life with you just the way it is. Your Momma loves to sleep but for you she will wake up as many times as you need and loves that you are so close to us at night.

Momma has overcome her fear of leaving you at the nursery at the Y and at Church but she still doesn’t like it and lots of days she chooses to just stay home with you. I really enjoy yoga and working out, I feel better and can be a better mom to you but that doesn't make it any easier to get out of bed and drop you off at the nursery.  We’ve had a few days of spring like weather and you enjoyed long walks in the beco and the stroller. The last few days haven’t been warm enough to go outside and we both seem to miss our walks.

You aren’t quite sitting up on your own yet. Without support you tend to dive forward onto your belly (and occasionally bump your head). With the smallest amount of support you love sitting up and seeing the world. In the last few days you have mastered rolling from belly to back instead of screaming for us to help you.  We’ve been careful for a while now but the pillow dam is now a vitally important part of your bedtime routine. When you wake up in the evenings for comfort and more milk I often find you on the other side of our king size bed. Baby Girl you are getting stronger and stronger when you are on your belly. I joke that you are going to crawl before you sit up unassisted and I really think you might. When you are on the ground you rear up in a position that closely resembles upward dog. You have also started to propel yourself backward but I don’t think you realize what you are doing yet. 

Audrey you have become so curious. Little things like water coming out of the facet or the fridge fascinate you. It has become hard for you to nap or eat when people are around (even Daddy is sometimes a distraction) because you don’t want to miss anything. You also let Momma and Daddy know if we aren’t doing want you want. Your enjoy eating books when we read to you and you still like Violet. You always smile when we give you "moo cow" and you still love mommy's teething necklaces. You still play on your play mat but like the jumperoo better. Lots of your daytime naps are still in your swing. You are growing up so fast baby girl, sometimes I just wish we could stop time but as hard as it is Momma and daddy don’t want to hold you back. We want to help you learn, grow, and explore. Next month we are going to take a series of sign language classes at Mama’s Hip. We are also going to take you swimming at the Y. These first 6 months have passes in the blink of an eye baby girl. 

Love,

Mommy, Momma, Mama, Mom and whatever else you may choose to call me! 

Is the basket smaller?

trying to get her to smile for Moo Cow

sitting in the chair with Momma

What is this?

This is pretty good...but maybe a little sour

Not so sure about this, maybe I'll just suck my fingers

Valentines Day

Momma had a little fun on Valentines Day! Audrey and Daddy got me the sweetest card and Daddy got me a deep freeze (I really had been wanting one for months!)